Called the Oxford of the East, Pune is a bubbling cosmopolitan city. A large student hub, this city loves art, culture and theatre.
The Sahyadri hill range of the Western Ghats makes this destination ideal for hiking and wildlife spotting. A shower of rain brings the city alive.
The Agha Khan Palace of Pune is a sprawling complex with emerald green gardens and sprawling lawns, perfect for a casual stroll. The Shaniwarwada is an ancient structure built by the Peshwas and the ruins of this marvellous architecture can still be seen in the city. Dedicated to the brave hearts of the Indian Army, the National War Museum is a popular tourist destination and houses militia paraphernalia.
Those interested in meditation can get day passes from the Osho International Meditation Resort, which is very popular with tourists.
Handcrafted beer, baked goodies at the Kayani Bakery on East Street and eateries such as Touche the Sizzler, Malaka Spice and Dario's will complete your trip here. Read More

Called the Oxford of the East, Pune is a bubbling cosmopolitan city. A large student hub, this city loves art, culture and theatre.
The Sahyadri hill range of the Western Ghats makes this destination ideal for hiking and wildlife spotting. A shower of rain brings the city alive.
The Agha Khan Palace of Pune is a sprawling complex with emerald green gardens and sprawling lawns, perfect for a casual stroll. The Shaniwarwada is an ancient structure built by the Peshwas and the ruins of this marvellous architecture can still be seen in the city. Dedicated to the brave hearts of the Indian Army, the National War Museum is a popular tourist destination and houses militia paraphernalia.
Those interested in meditation can get day passes from the Osho International Meditation Resort, which is very popular with tourists.
Handcrafted beer, baked goodies at the Kayani Bakery on East Street and eateries such as Touche the Sizzler, Malaka Spice and Dario's will complete your trip here.

If you stay in Pune, just few km's ride could get you awesome beaches. During my stay, i have been to a place which was completely hush with amazing natural ambiance all around.

The Queen of Deccan, Poona, is one city that mesmerises me. Always.Where else would you encounter virtues like trust, honesty in absolute strangers? A florist: “Tai, paise udya dya. Me kuthe jaanar ahe”? (Roughly translated-“Sis, pay me tomorrow, I am not going anywhere.” So much is the trust that he believes the customer will pay later; and so does the customer!) And this is not an isolated incident. Experiences like these want you to believe in humanity. And the goodness that is Pune.‘Punyanagari’ (virtuous city) nee Detroit of India, nee Oxford of the East nee the Cultural capital of Maharashtra is at ease donning multiple hats. Dotted with reputed research and educational institutions, the intellectually rich city is known byFergusson College, National Defence Academy, Symbiosis International University,National Chemical Laboratory, and Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics among many others.From walking its streets as a school girl to a mother now, I feel like a fish in water in Pune.Here's thetunictravellers (yours truly) ‘top 10 things to do’ in Pune-Soak in the festive fervour during ‘Ganpati’- Pune is at its celebrating best during the 10 day Ganesh festival. Thousands of ‘Mandals’ come up with varied décor and themes each year to compete for the best ‘Mandal’ award. The ‘Dhol’ and ‘Tasha’ performances reverberate energy and are worth watching ‘live’. Go ‘Mandal’ hopping after 7.00 p.m. to catch the beautiful illuminations and visit Dagdusheth (the most loved), Tulshi Baug, Kasba, Mandai, Tambdi Jogeshwari, Kesariwada and Guruji Talim Mandals. It gets extremely crowded by 9.00 p.m., so start early to miss the mobs.

Bhutan had been on my bucket list for a very very long while. I have been living in the southern part of the country for a while now, making Bhutan just a difficult and distant dream. Travelling has been a way of life for me and taught me never to miss out on a golden ticket. I recently got back from a short solo trip in/around Hampi (searching for the purpose of life as they say) but I realized I needed more time and had to go the extra mile. The Royal Enfield Tour of Bhutan 2016 came as the calling of a lifetime.

Day 2 started off with a morning walk in the huge resort (which was 100+ acres huge) followed by their breakfast which was out of the world!Unfortunately, my trip was just for 1 day and I had to leave for the airport unless I planned to miss my flight! 🙈😂

Like most of the people who started their job-lives in the near past i managed to reach my "i need a break" moment pretty soon.I could manage to take a few trips here n there but i figured the key was to completely breakaway from all known ties around me.Hampi seemed to be the perfect getaway on the strategically occurring Rakhi long weekend.I had no clue about the place. There was no plan. It seemed perfect.

Like many, I am one of those Delhiites who was fortunate enough to study in Pune. Four magical years of college can make any city seem special but there is something very charming about Pune which makes it extra special.It's been 3 years since I completed my engineering from BVP Pune but never seem to have gotten a closure. I wanted to have a proper goodbye and I, not being an impulsive person, decided to make an exception. I planned a 3 day trip back to the city that has filled my head with memories.All I am trying to do here is connect with those students who never got over this city. Here are your reasons to go back and live it all over.1. The enchanting rain and the god damn amazing weather.

Once the capital of the Nizams, it is now the joint capital of both the states of Andhra Pradesh as well as Telangana but officially is only the capital of the latter. It is one of the busiest cities of the country and crammed with people almost the whole year round. The old charm of the city is still intact and it is only because the people love their culture and heritage and are successful in keeping up with their roots. There are a number of places to visit in this city such as the Charminar, Golcoda Fort, Mecca Masjid and so many other places. The Hyderabadi Biryani is like the signature dish of this place and was also a favorite of the Nizam's. You still get the richest and most authentic taste of the dish out here. The market places are lined with sweet shops which sell the most delicious desserts for you to give your diet a toss. Shopping is also an option here.Read More

Once the capital of the Nizams, it is now the joint capital of both the states of Andhra Pradesh as well as Telangana but officially is only the capital of the latter. It is one of the busiest cities of the country and crammed with people almost the whole year round. The old charm of the city is still intact and it is only because the people love their culture and heritage and are successful in keeping up with their roots. There are a number of places to visit in this city such as the Charminar, Golcoda Fort, Mecca Masjid and so many other places. The Hyderabadi Biryani is like the signature dish of this place and was also a favorite of the Nizam's. You still get the richest and most authentic taste of the dish out here. The market places are lined with sweet shops which sell the most delicious desserts for you to give your diet a toss. Shopping is also an option here.

Goa is around 700 km from Hyderabad. Road is not much good but you can enjoy road trip by either your Bike or Car.

Day 11, 7 am - We reached Hyderabad. After dropping Sai at the local CTS Office, the three of us drove to Vijayawada. On the way, we stopped at the same roadside eatery to treat ourselves to more chicken keema and mutton keema dosas!Day 11, 7 pm - We finally reach the Chennai bypass... oh the feeling of relief that swept over us as we released that we were coming home at last! (Sai would return to Chennai a day later)

I learnt that travel isnt always comfortable. in my journey there were moments where i thought i shouldnt have done this alone. but then after i came back i felt....that this trip...was the best trip ever.....

A failed goa trip with friends had led me to the first solo trip of my life. After a lot of research on the net about places to visit, i believed Kasol would be the right destination. After making up my mind about doing it alone i booked my ticket to Delhi from Hyderabad ten days before my journey.

Call it a Cyberabad or City of Pearls, it's a known fact that Hyderabad is culturally a rich city. The city has its way of telling you tales about its heritage and ancient culture with its own idiosyncratic twist. Hyderabad, the city is embellished with royal architectural installations that proudly showcases the Nawabi atmosphere. Traditional yet urbane that's what best describes Hyderabad. My trip to Hyderabad will be special because this was my first solo trip. I always wanted to see the places as a traveller and not as a tourist and this was the best chance. Me travelling alone freaks my parents. I planned my dates in a smart way. I opted for the dates when my parents had scheduled pilgrimage for 5 days. So instead of being a couch potato, alone at home, I thought to spend my weekend at Hyderabad. FRIDAY SATURDAY & SUNDAY - IN THE CITY OF NIZAMS The plan was set. Thanks to my friend Sujith, my partner in crime who stays in Hyderabad. He helped me with the stay at the girls' hostel that was easy on my pockets. Sujith promised to show me around the city 1. Flight Tickets - Check (Indigo Airlines: MUM- HYD- 7th March - 5:20am) 2. Train Tickets - Check (Begumpeth Express: HYD - MUM - 9th March - 3:30pm)

If you are in Hyderabad on work or visiting with the purpose to travel, here is a guide of what you can cover on a weekend. Hyderabad is an old city and is a treat for history and food lovers alike. In this guide, I'll help draw you up a schedule with a good balance of both.

Streets of HyderabadMy visit to the former capital of Nizams has definitely been one of the most memorable ones.This city has a certain old world charm co-existing with the elements of modernization and urbanization. So, on the second day, I decided to visit the old part of this city. The city that houses the iconic Charminar, the old alleys, and rows of old dilapidated shops. It also has old mosques and shops selling the “attar” scents. It is here where you will get to see the “Real Hyderabad”.The first stop was the iconic “Charminar”. Well, who doesn't know Charminar? It is the first thing that comes to one’s mind when someone thinks of Hyderabad.The ride to Charminar itself is fascinating because driving from the urbanized, new and developed part of Hyderabad, one slowly comes closer to the old part of the city and slowly you get to see the change.

It was year end and we had a vacation pending to Hyderabad at my sister’s place. This trip was not one packed with a predefined itinerary, but more about spending time with my family in a different city.Me and my wifey got down at Hyderabad at around 10 pm, and the first thing that caught our eyes was the huge airport.We quickly got a Uber cab, and it was one long drive to reach Miyapur, bit outskirts to the city. The 6 lane Outer Ring road, surely enthralled the drive experience, giving us dreams of a overnight long drive to Bangalore. The huge skyscrapers and the mighty advertising banners, had one thing written clearly in it, confidence. The city thrives with high energy, evident from the big brand names like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and the youth who are swiftly versatile, be it in language or their skills.Entering at Hi-Tech City, gives you a real visual retreat. Impressive architecture in the IT parks, aristocracy in the hotels like Trident, all adding glory to the name “Cyberabad”.

Hyderabad has its own culture and I have found that most people in Hyderabad are very humble and hospitable. As they say "light lo yaro" (if literally translated in English, it means 'chill dude'), one can observe that people are quite relaxed and there is absolutely no rush in Hyderbadis' life. Culture and city of Hyderabad are a reflection of Nizam's dynasty. I always wanted to explore the city, see old palaces, meet Hyderabadi's and learn about the Nizam culture. Fortunately I started my first job at Hyderabad city and it gave me the opportunity to explore the city, monuments and culture.My cousin and I decided to explore Hyderabad old city and culture. We made a list of old places to visit in Hyderabad on weekend. Idea was to do a budgeted tour of all old monuments on my bike and capture them in my DSLR. In two days, i.e. on a weekend (From Jan 25 to January 26, 2014), we managed to visit places like Charminar, Laad Bazaar, Chowmahalla Palace (Nizam's Residence), Mecca Masjid, Hussain Sagar lake, Golconda Fort and Jubilee Hills. I have shared a small itinerary for two days and would recommend to start your tour early morning:

After a week of heavy rains in Telangana, we decided to visit Kuntala waterfalls. This is my first Tripoto article, in this, I am going to write my experiences from this trip. Also i will list down the expenses too as i think it is helpful to the readers.Flag off..

Best time to visit - January,February,September,October,November,December

Deriving its name from the five hills surrounding it, Panchgani is a nature lover's delight. Popular for its stunning beauty, peace and serenity, Panchgani is a favourite weekend spot.
A small trek to Sydney Point will offer you picturesque views of the Dhom Dam with the river flowing along the valley. Besides this, Table Land, situated here is the second longest mountain plateau of Asia. For everyone who is interested in history, Devil's Kitchen is a must visit. Located close to Table Land, Devil's Kitchen is said to have been home to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata epic for a while. The Pāndavgad Caves (near Wāi) are also said to be built by them then.
Parsi Point is another interesting touristy spot. It is the windiest part of Panchghani and is a part of the road which leads to Mahabaleshwar. The other attractions here include Bhim Chula, Harrison's Valley, Lingmala Point and Rajauri Caves.Read More

Deriving its name from the five hills surrounding it, Panchgani is a nature lover's delight. Popular for its stunning beauty, peace and serenity, Panchgani is a favourite weekend spot.
A small trek to Sydney Point will offer you picturesque views of the Dhom Dam with the river flowing along the valley. Besides this, Table Land, situated here is the second longest mountain plateau of Asia. For everyone who is interested in history, Devil's Kitchen is a must visit. Located close to Table Land, Devil's Kitchen is said to have been home to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata epic for a while. The Pāndavgad Caves (near Wāi) are also said to be built by them then.
Parsi Point is another interesting touristy spot. It is the windiest part of Panchghani and is a part of the road which leads to Mahabaleshwar. The other attractions here include Bhim Chula, Harrison's Valley, Lingmala Point and Rajauri Caves.

2. Panchgani, situated at an altitude of 1334 meters and 244 km away from Mumbai, It lies in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the most popular weekend getaways. There are several interesting must-see places of interest which attract tourists. One such is the Sydney Point which is situated on a hill facing the picturesque Krishna Valley. The various other places to see are the Parsi Point, the Devil’s Kitchen, The Table land and the Mapro Garden. One can even engage in leisurely walks in the local bazaar.

If it hadn’t been for the constant search of the British for scenic hill stations with invigorating climate, Panchgani probably wouldn’t have been discovered. It was developed as a retirement place but soon became one of the most popular hill stations in Maharashtra. Its beauty is enhanced by a flat piece of land which is called the ‘table top’.The credit for discovering Panchgani must go to a British superintendent named John Chesson who was placed in charge of the hill station in the 1860s. Fond of gardening, he planted many species from the western world in Panchgani, including silver oak and poinsettia, which have flourished since then. To develop the infrastructure, Chesson encouraged various professionals – tailors, dhobis, butchers, vegetable vendors, building contractors, etc. to also settle in Panchgani. The area below the bazaar was allotted to them, and is known as the ‘gaothan’.Panchgani is nestled in the middle of five hills in the Sahyadri mountain ranges and amidst five villages known as Dandeghar, Khingar, Godwali, Amral and Taighat. The Krishna River flows nearby which is what has created the lake of Dhom Dam. Located 285 kilometers from Mumbai and 100 kilometers from Pune, it is the pleasant climate of Panchgani that attracts tourists, not to forget the scenic views one gets from its points.The five hills surrounding Panchgani are topped by a volcanic plateau, which is the second highest in Asia after the Tibetan Plateau. This plateau, alternatively known as ‘table land’, is a part of the Deccan Plateau. Some of the points that you must visit are Sydney Point from where you can see the waters of the Dhom Dam, Parsi Point that overlooks the Krishna valley and Devil’s Kitchen which has a mythological legend associated with it: It is believed that the Pandavas of the Mahabharat epic had stayed here for a while.Attractions in Panchgani :Sherbaug : Dwelling of many sorts of birds species such as swans, rabbits and turkeys, Sherbaug is a picturesque place in hill station Panchgani. One can also enjoy the picture-perfect surroundings along with a beautiful lush green garden. Sculpturing is the main activity carried out here to engage the children. And it is one of the main attractions of Panchgani that one should visit to take back beautiful memoirs to cherish for lifetime.

5. Panchgani -This stunning hill station will offer the entire family a beautiful view of Krishna River as well as the plains. The old colonial architecture, Parsi homes, and boarding lodges will take you back in time. The best views are from Table Land, a flat mountain peak which looks down at the plains. The local bazaar also offers some local artefacts.

5. Panchgani -Hill stations have a certain charm to them. Panchgani, located close to Pune, is no exception. This beautiful town is centred in the heart of the five hills in Sahyadris. It is also blessed with pleasant climate all through the year. In fact, the Britishers would use this place as their retreat during their rule here. It attracts people from all over the country. The River Krishna flows by and forms a serene lake at Dhom Dam, which is built right across it.A visit to one of the many strawberry farms here will definitely also make your day. One cannot doubt that Panchgani is among the best weekend getaways from Pune. Panchgani is just 101 kilometres away and is a fun filled place to trip to. Located in the Satara district of Maharashtra, tent pitching is one of the options that offered to those who like a night out in the open. Ride a bullock cart or a tractor and get back to those good old days here in Panchgani, a place that brings down the curtain on our list of offbeat weekend getaways from Pune. The Satara district of Maharashtra is blessed with a place called Panchgani that is just about 101 kilometres away from Pune. It is a place for those who swear by outdoor activities like tent pitching, bird watching, trekking along trails and camping. You can hop on to a bullock cart for a ride here as well. It is a nice place to visit and this we urge you to explore weekend getaways and resorts around Pune.With a enjoyable climate all through the year, this hill station has the perfect location between the five hills of the Sahyadri range. The British were the first to institute this place as one of the best weekend spots from Pune and it maintains the tradition to inveigle its visitors till date. River Krishna gushes nearby only to give birth to a lake with the Dhom Dam built crossways. Both the river and the dam are major tourist sites, flocked by families and trekkers in large numbers. Ideally perfect to visit from September to May, the 100 kms drive from Pune will prove to be a boon once you reach here. Strawberry farms here are many and you can even shop from these lands at negligible prices. All of it sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

The first thing that comes to my mind when i think of Panchgani is STRAWBERRYS! The place is drowning in strawberries ( quite literally). There are a few spots like Parsi point, Kate's point, Sydney point etc which don't exactly have anything to do with the names they are given as such but the view from these point are breathtakingly gorgeous. It is all almost the same picturesque view but from different angles . Another interesting visit here is the Tableland which is Asia's 2nd largest plateau . A walk till the end of the plateau gives you an amazing view of the surrounding mountains which somewhat resemble a miniature Grand Canyon ( or maybe its just my imagination running wild). So , if your a nature lover and just want to walk and explore scenic beauty Panchgani is a must go. It is best to visit this place during the monsoon season as the beauty gets enhanced by a floating layer of foggy mist endowing the entire view.

Parasailing in the Western Ghats could make you hold your breath, and how! Maharshtra which lies besides these ghats has various destinations which are great for parasailors! With the hills stretching out from Gujarat in the north to the Nilgiris, lots os sites have become favourites! Some among these are- Matheran, Deolali,Mahabaleshwar, Singhgad and Panchgani

The destination of the World Heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves where you find a new meaning of beauty, Aurangabad was named after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The city is located at the banks of the Kham River and known as one of the most historically significant cities of Maharshtra. You will also find the best museums out here which include the three most important ones. These are the Sunehri Mahal Museum, University Museum and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum. apart from recieving all other modern facilities and amenities during your trip, you can laze away the afternoons in the beauty of the Bani Begum Gardens too. Read More

The destination of the World Heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves where you find a new meaning of beauty, Aurangabad was named after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The city is located at the banks of the Kham River and known as one of the most historically significant cities of Maharshtra. You will also find the best museums out here which include the three most important ones. These are the Sunehri Mahal Museum, University Museum and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum. apart from recieving all other modern facilities and amenities during your trip, you can laze away the afternoons in the beauty of the Bani Begum Gardens too.

Aurangabad is a bustling town (The world-heritage Ajanta and Ellora caves are a little distance away) and I could comfortably find a decent hotel (Hotel Karthiki) near the main bus stop. The hotel was cheap and pretty good for the tariff (Rs. 600 per night). I freshened up and then headed out to the main bus stop to figure out how to get to Lonar. Turns out Lonar wasn’t very much frequented by tourists and was more or less an off-beat destination. I guess researchers and geologists were the ones enamored by the place. So here was the deal with buses. Private buses leave at around 2.30 am to a place called Sultanpur which is about 15km from Lonar. Sultanpur lay enroute to Pune so all buses heading towards Pune might as well stop there on request. There are state transport buses from Aurangabad to Lonar as well but their availability is meager compared to the private buses. One can also take a state transport bus from Aurangabad to Jalna and then head off to Lonar. Jalna is around 100 kms from Lonar and the availability of buses to Lonar from Jalna is more than in Aurangabad. I weighed my options and decided to take a private bus at 2.30am to Sultanpur. Sultanpur is 135km from Aurangabad. The bus promptly did turn up at 2.30 am. It was an uneventful ride to Sultanpur. Reached Sultanpur at about 5.30am. Sultanpur operates private autos to Lonar Village. I parked myself in one of these and amidst “Baazigar” reached Lonar at 6.30am.

Aurangabad is a good place to visit if u love street food.... WE had street sandwich which I think not a single hi fi restaurant can make... WE tasted almost everything there which was available on the streets. There are few historical places but govt is not maintaining them so no one visit them.

This city is named after Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. It was called Fatehpur before it took its present name. This city is gateway to the World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves. Developed as a modern city, Aurangabad provides all comforts and modern facilities.

Arrive into Aurangabad on a morning flight. Transfer to your hotel and proceed for a half-day sightseeing tour of the Ajanta/ Ellora complex. Don't forget to take a torch- it'll come in handy inside the caves. Return to your hotel at your convenience. Overnight Aurangabad.

We spotted a rustic, vegetarian dhaba called ‘Deluxe Dhaba’ and attacked the food as soon it was served. Dal Tadka and Shev Bhaji, (a famous local Maharashtrian dish) was our nourishment for the night. After a few quick cups of tea, we set off again at a steady pace.

The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as Bibi Ka Maqbara. Recently, Aurangabad has been declared as Tourism Capital of Maharashtra.
The hand crafted caves of Ajanta and Ellora are astonishing, renowned for their sculptures, paintings and rare architecture. City Chowk as its name suggest, the center of the city, near the chowk is Buddi Lane known for spicy and delicious foods. Shah Gunj has a big fruit and vegetables market in the city. Aurangabadi cuisine is much like the Mughlai cuisine with its aromatic pulao and biryani.
P.S.- Bring a torch with you to the Ajanta caves as many of them are quite dark and lighting is poor.

After Nasik, we planned on using Aurangabad as a springboard to explore the Ajanta & Ellora caves. However, on reaching Aurangabad we realized that this Indian town had an interesting story of it’s own and so we set about seeing what was on offer before continuing onto the surrounding caves.
Aurangabad has quite an array of Mughal architecture, of these the most interesting was the Bibi-qa-Maqbara which Aurangzeb’s son Azam Khan built in 1679 as a mausoleum for his mother. Known as ‘the baby Taj’, the mausoleum is a replica of the Taj Mahal in Agra but is constructed of much cheaper material earning it another nickname, ‘the poor man’s Taj’. When we walked through the gates to see the baby Taj we were amazed, it really was the Taj Mahal only smaller, but with hardly any visitors and no vendors or rickshaw drivers annoying us it was more pleasant than the original in a way!

We've all heard numerous stories about the enchanting twin caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Located about 30 km from Aurangabad, Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are a total of 34 caves in Ellora that are inspired by Buddhist architecture and are a delight for history buffs, art lovers, photographers and explorers. Quiet, serene and extremely pleasing, Ellora should be on every traveller's list!
Do visit the stunning Kailasa Temple in Ellora's cave 16. Considered to be one of the largest rock-cut temples in the world, the temple assumes an overwhelming presence and is a sight to behold. It is an attempt to replicate the temple at Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva and for tourists visiting, it truly does seem like an impression.
There are a few other places to see in Ellora including waterfalls and temples, though every touristy spot is connected to the caves and it'll be quite a surprise if you do find time to visit other places! The caves can take up to 3 days if you want to explore them thoroughly and enjoy the art and architecture. Do remember that the caves are closed on Tuesday, but open on all national holidays.
You don't have to worry about places to stay here since there are tons of wonderful hotels in Ellora, including the Ellora Heritage Resort. Incase you are looking for a homestay, do check out a few reviews before you take your pick!Read More

We've all heard numerous stories about the enchanting twin caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Located about 30 km from Aurangabad, Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are a total of 34 caves in Ellora that are inspired by Buddhist architecture and are a delight for history buffs, art lovers, photographers and explorers. Quiet, serene and extremely pleasing, Ellora should be on every traveller's list!
Do visit the stunning Kailasa Temple in Ellora's cave 16. Considered to be one of the largest rock-cut temples in the world, the temple assumes an overwhelming presence and is a sight to behold. It is an attempt to replicate the temple at Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva and for tourists visiting, it truly does seem like an impression.
There are a few other places to see in Ellora including waterfalls and temples, though every touristy spot is connected to the caves and it'll be quite a surprise if you do find time to visit other places! The caves can take up to 3 days if you want to explore them thoroughly and enjoy the art and architecture. Do remember that the caves are closed on Tuesday, but open on all national holidays.
You don't have to worry about places to stay here since there are tons of wonderful hotels in Ellora, including the Ellora Heritage Resort. Incase you are looking for a homestay, do check out a few reviews before you take your pick!

To visit Ellora, set up camp in Aurangabad, a distance of a mere 30 kilometers. This architectural wonder's most interesting facet is that it is a monolithic structure, that is, it has been carved out of a single block of stone, in this case, the Charanandri Hills. The UNESCO World Heritage site, dating back to the 5th century, was constructed for almost four hundred years. It contains Buddhist monasteries or viharas, as well as caves depicting scenes related to the Hindu and Jain faith.
The Kailasa Temple is the centerpiece of the grandeur that is Ellora. It depicts Mount Kailasa, said to be the place where Lord Shiva of the Hindu pantheon resides. The temple appears to have several layers whereas it is carved out of a single rock.
A single day's visit is not sufficient to take it all in. Allow yourself at least two days to explore this historical site.

A day on and a short, forty-five minute bus journey north-west of Aurangabad and we were at the UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Ellora Cave Temples. The Ellora Cave Temples are a collection of thirty-four caves strung out along a two kilometer rock face in the green hills outside of Aurrangabad. Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religions are all represented here and were chiseled out of the rock over a period of five centuries by the monks of each respective religion. It’s an incredible example of Indian rock-cut architecture and the monks used these cave as monasteries, chapels and temples once all the work, done by hand, was completed. Each cave is numbered from one to thirty-four. The first 12 caves are Buddhist, the next 17 are Hindu and the last five are Jain. We rolled back towards Aurangabad and made one old local ladies day when she asked us to take her picture (through a series of gestures) and then shook hands with Noelle, she was smiling ear to ear and we weren’t far off either!

The seven hills surrounding Satara give this picturesque district its name. Home to the popular Panchgani and Mahableshwar, Satara in Maharashtra is perfect for a rejuvenation holiday.
If you are here for a holiday, do visit the scenic Kaas Plateau overlooking the Kaas Lake. Though it is a popular spot, you may be disappointed with the lack of good eating places. It's best to head here after breakfast. Another wonderful tourist spot is the Thoseghar Waterfalls. Located about 25 km from Satara, these lovely waterfalls offer the most stunning views during monsoon. Also the highest waterfall in Maharashtra, Thoseghar should definitely be on your itinerary.
If you have more time, then head to the village of Bamnoli, located 50 km away, where you can enjoy boating in the Shivsagar Lake.
There are tons of places to visit in Satara district so do choose your destinations in accordance to the kind of holiday you'd like to take. Read More

The seven hills surrounding Satara give this picturesque district its name. Home to the popular Panchgani and Mahableshwar, Satara in Maharashtra is perfect for a rejuvenation holiday.
If you are here for a holiday, do visit the scenic Kaas Plateau overlooking the Kaas Lake. Though it is a popular spot, you may be disappointed with the lack of good eating places. It's best to head here after breakfast. Another wonderful tourist spot is the Thoseghar Waterfalls. Located about 25 km from Satara, these lovely waterfalls offer the most stunning views during monsoon. Also the highest waterfall in Maharashtra, Thoseghar should definitely be on your itinerary.
If you have more time, then head to the village of Bamnoli, located 50 km away, where you can enjoy boating in the Shivsagar Lake.
There are tons of places to visit in Satara district so do choose your destinations in accordance to the kind of holiday you'd like to take.

As I reached Satara it became even worse - the mad traffic and the road, and finally reached Pune at 8 pm. It was so nice to see my favorite Mama and Mami. Went for local Pune ride the next day and found myself like AK in PK. No one was following traffic rules, no helmets, no rules nothing. Saw people staring at me for following regulations. While coming back from MG road a guy in Merc was shouting at me for waiting for traffic light to turn green. Educated illiterate eh!? Spent the next two days in Pune and got much needed rest and most needed sleep. Running short of time, energy and most importantly money I decided to skip Mumbai and head to Goa. On 29th Dec left for Panchagani and Mahabaleswar. Visited Ganapati Temple in Wai and started climbing the hill. Reached the next destination by 11 am. Spent some time in city and at various places and left for Ratnagari. Joined Mumbai–Goa highway and reached the city of mangoes by 6 pm and stayed there for the night.

In the evening we started for Mahabaleshwar... Next day was fully dedicated to Mahabaleshswar. Visit to Mahabaleshwar Temple was quite ok. The highlight was after that. We reached one of the view point in old Mahabaleshwar. There was nothing to see the whole area was covered with fog. On reaching there in the jungle we saw the whole heard on Indian Bison. They were so big ab majestic and looking great......

Our initial target for the day was Pune (845 kms from Bangalore), but since we got delayed and we didn’t want to ride through the night, we decided to stay at a place called Satara. Pune was still a good 100 kms away. After a bit of hunting, we found a decent hotel right on the highway and we were settled in. I slept like a baby that night!Day 1 Stay: Hotel Mahindra Executive, SataraPros: Decent Staff. Good Food. Right on the highway.Cons: Small rooms. Slightly pricy.Few Pointers: Start as early as you can. Make note that you need time to pack the luggage onto the bikes. Always keep spare bungee cords. Also thoroughly wrap your luggage with tarpaulin. NH4 has relatively fewer fuel stations, so keep this in mind when you’re running low. The hotels in Satara have something called permit rooms, which people rent to host alcohol parties. This can get pretty ugly with an unruly crowd. So please check thoroughly before you zero in.DAY 2:Satara – Mumbai (270 kms):We were all pretty beat from riding all day long, so we slept in even though we had planned to leave early. After having some yum MisalPav andPoha for breakfast, we were ready to leave by 9AM. Now we had the horrendous task of loading the luggage and wrapping it with tarpaulin. It was only Day 2 and I was already fed up with the wrapping and unwrapping of tarpaulin. It is such a tedious task.Anyway, we finally managed to leave by 10AM. The road from here is great, and the view is out of this world. The route is surrounded by the Western Ghats. This beauty is mesmerizing all year round, but during the monsoons she has an outer worldly charm. Serene, calm and soothing. What a refreshing start to the day.

9. Satara -This beautiful weekend destination is located right where the River Krishna joins its tributary called Venna. This place was the erstwhile capital of the powerful Maratha Empire. This little city should interest history buffs as there are a number of places of historical relevance to visit. Most of the heritage sites and other cultural hubs are the reason why tourists come here for a relaxing weekend. The weather is good throughout the year for a lovely picnic with family and friends. To experience one of the best weekend getaways from Pune, make a visit to Satara. Once known to be the capital of the powerful Maratha Empire, Satara stands at the meeting point of the Krishna River and Venna, its tributary.It is the monuments here that draw in the tourists in droves and one is sure to have a great time here. The Vajrai waterfalls, and the forts Sajjangarh and Ajinkyatara are places one cannot miss here and the Kass Plateau is one of nature’s wonders to behold here in Satara. July to February is when one should visit this wonderful place. Around 112 kilometres away from Pune, Satara is full of surprise packages that one should visit in order to unravel. Take your pick from the list above of some of the best weekend getaways from Pune.

Best time to visit - January,February,September,October,November,December

Earlier the capital of the Chalukya Kingdom, Badami is located in the North Karnataka District and is a part of Bagalkot. This place is surrounded by beautiful hills and mainly known for the lovely cave temples. This is a group of four temples which are made of soft sandstone. Out of these three are dedicated to the Hindu religion while the one remaining is for the Jains. These are some of the perfect examples of Chalukyan Temple architecture. The evolving time and development can be well found in the ravines of this place and the designs made on the walls and ceilings of these temples make them soe of the best temples of South India.Read More

Earlier the capital of the Chalukya Kingdom, Badami is located in the North Karnataka District and is a part of Bagalkot. This place is surrounded by beautiful hills and mainly known for the lovely cave temples. This is a group of four temples which are made of soft sandstone. Out of these three are dedicated to the Hindu religion while the one remaining is for the Jains. These are some of the perfect examples of Chalukyan Temple architecture. The evolving time and development can be well found in the ravines of this place and the designs made on the walls and ceilings of these temples make them soe of the best temples of South India.

Badami was founded in 540 AD by Pulakeshin I (535-566 AD), and was capital of the Chalukyas between 6CE - 8CE and the rock-cut Badami Cave Temples were sculpted during this period.

BadamiOn the second day after visiting Ibrahim Rauza in Bijapur, I started my journey to go 1000 years back in the history. It was the turn of Badami, capital city of Chalukya empire from 5th century to 8th century. After Islamic architecture, turn comes for the Hindu temple architecture very native to India.From Bijapur I moved towards south to Badami an ancient city situated on the banks of Malprabha river in the bagalkot district of Karnataka. While going from Bijapur to Bagalkot, I crossed Krishna river. It was really an amazing sight for me as I had already witnessed the origin of Krishna in Mahabaleshwar. Krishna river had expanded its course for approximately 2 km where I crossed the bridge. Before crossing the bridge there were too many highway restaurants of fishes. I filled my tummy with the delicious fish. Then, I left the Krishna and moved ahead to the bagalkot.I reached bagalkot at 12 which is approximately 80 km from bijapur. I didn't want waste more time as half of the day had already gone. I moved towards Badami which is 30 km from Bagalkot. I reached badami at 1 pm. Then I searched for a hotel and found a decent one. I checked in the hotel. I didn't waste more time and went towards Badami temple which was 1 km from the hotel.I reached badami temple from a narrow street but the sight was magnificent in the first glance itself. This was completely different from Bijapur where most of the monuments were built using black stone. Here we find red sand stone hills everywhere. The first thing I saw was the Agastya lake and Bhootnath temple on the south-west of the lake . There is also a museum to the left of the entrance. Museum also has some fine structures. One idol that amazed me was the idol of Lazza gauri, the fertility goddess, a unique type of sculputure in the art of badami chalukya period.

Badami is about 20-30 kms from Pattadakal. These are cave temples and are done out of huge monolithic rocks. There are 4 cave temples here. One for Lord Shiva, two for Vishnu and one dedicated to Jainism. It is just awe-inspiring. I know I’ve been telling this for like almost every other pic, but that is how you feel when you visit these places :)

The Badami cave temples in Bagalkot District of north Karnataka are one of the finest examples of rock-cut architecture in the country, and as such, an important part of our history. It’s one of the things that make you wonder at how artistically and practically advanced our ancestors were – they had the ways to make such structures, and they had the sensibilities to make them so beautiful and aesthetically powerful. There are four cave temples, all carved out of sandstone. One is a Jain temple, one is dedicated to Shiva and two to Vishnu. There is a fifth small natural cave with a statue of Buddha. These and other equally old temples are set around Agasthya Tank, which is an impressive sight.

BADAMI ALSO KNOWN AS VATAPI WAS THE CAPITAL OF THE CHALUKYAN EMPIRE.ATTRACTED BY THE SCENIC BEAUTY AND NATURAL DEFENCES PROVIDED BY THE MAJESTIC STANDING HILLSAND THE VAST SHEET OF WATER BELOW.
ROCK CUT 4 CAVES DEPICTING IMAGES OF SHIVA VISHNU MAHAVIR , LAKE AND TEMPLES SPREAD ACROSS THE HILL AND MUSEUM.

Lonar (लोणार) is a town and a municipal council in Buldhana district of the division of Buldhana of the region of Vidarbha in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a Taluka of the district of Buldhana and is located near Mehkar. It is an important place in Buldhana district and is famous for Lonar crater and Lonar Lake, which is located at 19°58′N 76°30′E.Lonar is situated around 550 km from Mumbai, around 160 km from Aurangabad and around 140 km southeast of the famous Ajanta Caves, about 4½ hours drive via Buldhana. Though it is in proximity to many tourist spots, it is not visited by many tourists.Lonar is located at 19°59′06″N 76°31′23″E. It has an average elevation of 563 metres (1847 feet). Lonar Lake is a saltwater lake at Lonar in Buldana district, Maharashtra, India, which was created by a meteor hitting the Earth during the Pleistocene Epoch. The impact crater thereby formed is the only hypervelocity meteoritic impact crater on basalt rock. A lake that evolved in the resulting basaltic rock formation, is both saline and alkaline in nature. Geologists, ecologists, archaeologists, naturalists and astronomers have reported several studies on the various aspects of this crater lake ecosystem. Lonar Lake has a mean diameter of 1.2 kilometres (3,900 ft) and is about 137 metres (449 ft) below the crater rim. The meteor crater rim is about 1.8 kilometres (5,900 ft) in diameter. The circular depression bears a saline water lake in its central portion.The crater's age is usually estimated to be 52,000 ± 6,000 years (Pleistocene),although a study published in 2010 gives an age of 656,000 ± 81,000 years. Lonar is one of those places which has lost it's vicinity and even the Archaeological Society of India is not serious upto preserving this awesome place. It is said that, if Lonar Crater is studied carefully, YOU WOULD NEVER REQUIRE TO GO TO MARS!- source BBC DISCOVERY DOCUMENTARY available on Youtube.Stories to be believed, the Lonar when hit by the meteor, there were 09 temples, 01 cave and 1000 lives lost, still date, there are ruins everywhere. Imagine you get to see a devastation that occured appx 60,000 year earlier.Read More

Lonar (लोणार) is a town and a municipal council in Buldhana district of the division of Buldhana of the region of Vidarbha in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a Taluka of the district of Buldhana and is located near Mehkar. It is an important place in Buldhana district and is famous for Lonar crater and Lonar Lake, which is located at 19°58′N 76°30′E.Lonar is situated around 550 km from Mumbai, around 160 km from Aurangabad and around 140 km southeast of the famous Ajanta Caves, about 4½ hours drive via Buldhana. Though it is in proximity to many tourist spots, it is not visited by many tourists.Lonar is located at 19°59′06″N 76°31′23″E. It has an average elevation of 563 metres (1847 feet). Lonar Lake is a saltwater lake at Lonar in Buldana district, Maharashtra, India, which was created by a meteor hitting the Earth during the Pleistocene Epoch. The impact crater thereby formed is the only hypervelocity meteoritic impact crater on basalt rock. A lake that evolved in the resulting basaltic rock formation, is both saline and alkaline in nature. Geologists, ecologists, archaeologists, naturalists and astronomers have reported several studies on the various aspects of this crater lake ecosystem. Lonar Lake has a mean diameter of 1.2 kilometres (3,900 ft) and is about 137 metres (449 ft) below the crater rim. The meteor crater rim is about 1.8 kilometres (5,900 ft) in diameter. The circular depression bears a saline water lake in its central portion.The crater's age is usually estimated to be 52,000 ± 6,000 years (Pleistocene),although a study published in 2010 gives an age of 656,000 ± 81,000 years. Lonar is one of those places which has lost it's vicinity and even the Archaeological Society of India is not serious upto preserving this awesome place. It is said that, if Lonar Crater is studied carefully, YOU WOULD NEVER REQUIRE TO GO TO MARS!- source BBC DISCOVERY DOCUMENTARY available on Youtube.Stories to be believed, the Lonar when hit by the meteor, there were 09 temples, 01 cave and 1000 lives lost, still date, there are ruins everywhere. Imagine you get to see a devastation that occured appx 60,000 year earlier.

10. Lonar -This is a crater which is said to have been formed long ago when a large meteorite crashed on the earth forming this crater. This is now however a trekkers’ destination and one of the best weekend getaways from Mumbai. Trek route is quite difficult for new trekkers. It is a slippery way with an undulating terrain. The steps you see here are artificial and tend to crumble away very easily. As you get successful to enter the crater, you can visit the temples of Renukadevi, Ganapati, Daityasudana and Gaimukh. Legends also say that Emperor Akbar used to bath with soaps made from the green waters of this crater cum lake.